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I would love to hear from veteran BTD'ers about which changes they made that they saw made the biggest impact. Was it eliminating a particular avoid? And/or was it adding a particular beneficial? How did changing your exercise regimine to meet the LR4YT guidelines affect you?

I love the testimonials here, and getting on the "more-compliant" bandwagon, I would enjoy hearing more from those who really have benefited from this lifestyle (and yes, I am reading through all of the middle-aged, Type A Resultsbase entries too! :B

Elizabeth

Posted by: Lola, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 6:50am; Reply: 1

I believe it is a mix of avoiding all avoids and adding all beneficials as well as neutrals....plus the excersise suggestions........

depending on your health, the results are mostly incredible!

don t give up Elisabeth!!

Posted by: Devora, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 7:17am; Reply: 2

I agree. I cannot possibly know what aspect of the diet helped me. It seems that it is the combination of factiors that adds up to overall health.

hm,hm a lot did change for me, no more diarhea after "red meat" because no more beef for me, no more cloudy brain, feel much calmer and stronger, panic attacks went away, depression is sometimes remarkable because of my private situation for sure,but must say I agreed it now and this was ok because at this time I can't change anything at this moment! :P :PThe only serious problem I have really is because getting anemic I can't do the sportsI' d like to do, after a walk of 30 minutes I am really down and thats something very anoying.

For the rest I may say, I feel great and working with others and BTD is no job at all butfor me it became a great gift.

:D - regards Isa

Posted by: +Aan, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 2:43pm; Reply: 4

Isa why are you anemic might I ask? They have an herbal iron formula that you can take. I'm so good with advice but I can't remember the name of it. Your HFS should carry it. I'm 50+ and I've only been on the diet for one week. My asthma still exists but.... I can work like -ell, my legs don't swell and hurt so much, my skin is clearing(still wrinkly though)I'm standing taller and my belly is tucking itself in (or trying). I should have done this years ago.

Posted by: Brighid45, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 3:03pm; Reply: 5

Good work Aan!

For me, the biggest change was from cutting out grains and legumes (but then I'm probably a nonsecretor). And drinking a LOT more water.

Posted by: Alia Vo, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 3:54pm; Reply: 6

Elizabeth,

Several lifestyle changes have had profoud effects on my overall health; I will mention a few:

* I am very highly compliant on the BTD* I have swtiched over to mostly organic produce and foods (IMHO, important for the sensitive stomach of blood type A's)* I have become a regular yoga practioner* I exercise daily (this is not new for me as I have exercised regularly for most of my adult life, but I have now changed the types of exercise activities I engage in)* I drinking eight cups of water daily with a pinch of Celtic sea salt (the sea salt helps remove extra toxins out of our cells and keeps the body hydrated)* I avod the main A 'avoids': meat, dairy, wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans, and lima beans)* I obtaining eight hours of sleep nightly, and I having a regular sleeping/waking schedule I adhere to closely

Alia

Posted by: 748 (Guest), Sunday, January 23, 2005, 4:01pm; Reply: 7

Things that made the biggest difference for me were avoiding the Corn & Chicken.....so prevelant in the American diet!!!! But as I'm prone to seizures (none of the doctors could really figure out why.....just wanted to perscribe some Depakote...) the complete avoidness of those 2 things has not completely gotten rid of them happening but certainly contributes to my having them much less often ;D Makes sense since both of those things for an AB block insulin production......

On par with those avoids, the BIGGEST thing, I think for any A antigen carrier is having a glass of warm lemon water EVERY MORNING. It really does work wonders on getting your body flowing & takes away that bloated feeling I always had. GOD BLESS THE LEMON!!!! :D

Posted by: catlawyer, Sunday, January 23, 2005, 5:54pm; Reply: 8

This is great stuff - you are all so wonderful to share your stories! I keep forgetting about the lemon water and will get right into incorporating that.

For those of you who avoid wheat, do you also avoid Eziekiel bread? The reason I ask is that I find I do better using Eziekiel bread than if I have regular bread, but I am wondering if I would do even better to do without it altogether? But LR4YT says that Eziekiel is a Tier 1 beneficial, so I am assuming if I stick with it, it really is doing me some good?

Gave my darling children some organic frozen wild bluberries with their oatmeal this morning and they gobbled it up. I love the feeling that comes from seeing their beautiful faces and knowing I am feeding them something they love and that is good for them. They are such Annie's Mac N Cheese fanatics!

+Aan, claro you may ask, why do I have this "bloody"anemia, I think since a long time I've got problems with my menses, makes sometime 2 or 3 times in a month- so thats-why it did happend and I cant support higher ironsupps, so I do take others, the mentioned liquid is also nothing for me, but it seems to take much more time to get up my irondefficencies.

Isa--The cell salt Ferrum Phos is iron in the most benign form. There is also homeopathic help for menses that come too often. Seems like you have mentioned a homeopathic practitioner there in Switzerland. You might want to ask about remedies for this.

Posted by: Wulf, Monday, January 24, 2005, 3:24am; Reply: 12

I think for me eliminating the nightshade family from this type A's diet was the crowning glory.

I took this makes now some years, wondering why I've got extrem diarrhea after in-take, because I thought- yepee something of ok for me!!!

What has happend? Lactose and me, we've a super non-benef. friendship ;D ;DI cant' support it because I ve a lact. intolerance.............

I performed allways in the "bloody family histrory" :-/

thanks Isa

Posted by: Robert, Monday, January 24, 2005, 3:43pm; Reply: 14

I have only been on BTD 99% for a little over 5 weeks. everything is going well. lost 12 lbs, stabilized blood sugars ( I am 63 and diabetic for 11 yrs), more energy. All elimination problems are gone. My only problem now is pain in my shoulders, hips, neck etc. The xrays say some arthritis but not allot. I have had the electrical shock tests (ouch!) in my arms, hands to check nerves for neuropathy etc. No problem there. I just had an MRI test to see if I have a pinched nerve in my spine. Results are not not back yet. It is interesting that when I first went on the BTD in December 04, that for the first 3 or 4 days I was pain free in these muscles. Maybe just a coincidence but it really had me exited til the pain returned. Just the same, there are so many benefits to me for BTD. My wife and I are cooking together and enjoying that. She is an AB so not too different from the A. It's actually cheaper to eat a BTD program for us too. Thanks for this forum and special thanks to Isa-Manuela whose kindness and generosity is so rare! ...I wish I had a little of her energy!

im qiute amazed by the number of people that have just been on the diet for a few weeks or so. where are you all hearing about it? i know there was a poll on it before...sorry.

rosie

Posted by: +Aan, Monday, January 24, 2005, 10:59pm; Reply: 17

I've had the books for the last few years but never really applied it. I finally bloated up like a pig so when the 1st. come around I told myself, DO SOMETHING! It doesn't seem like too many people know about it also, but it's a goodie!

Posted by: +Aan, Monday, January 24, 2005, 11:02pm; Reply: 18

Also I was SO impressed with all the information in the book. Herbs to take. Protacalls to check into. Foods allowed for some, not others. Foods allowed that in other diet books were not. Very Interesting. Got me hooked!

For me, greatly reducing dairy made the biggest difference. I've had trouble breathing for years, so breathed through my mouth quite a bit. To be able to breathe easily through my nose is great. I think it has cut down on allergies as well. As soon as I start cheating with dairy, I'll notice phlegm in the throat. Dairy has also been very constipating for me as well. However, I've given up dairy before without noticing the dramatic effect. As the others have said, it's giving up dairy within the context of the other changes that made the difference. I will say that I didn't have to comply very strictly to see the change. Just greatly reducing dairy and wheat and adding beef were the key things I did in the beginning. I still included some corn in the beginning, maybe switching from a wheat product to a corn product, since wheat is enemy number one for Type O.

Posted by: Melissa_J, Tuesday, January 25, 2005, 5:32am; Reply: 20

Wheat, 100%

But I'm still evolving and discovering benefits each time I work on better eliminating an avoid. Corn makes my brain foggy and weight go up, sugar does the same, coconut makes me tired, dairy makes me gassy and anxious and makes my weight go up, soy stops me up and gives me gas...wheat does all of the above and then some!

Dear Isa, You mentioned anaemia. I imagine this is to do with haem/iron levels. Maybe my story is relevant. I did mention this on another forum when we were talking about getting enough iron into Miranda's little boy I think.(apologies if wrong here!)When I went recently to become a blood donor again, of course there was a test to see if my iron levels were sufficient to participate. The result was that they had increased over the two year period that I had been on the diet, especially since I rediscovered lentils and use them at least several times a week. (and also lots of greens which I grow on my balcony in pots ---( beetroot greens, spinach,chard, parsely,coriander, nasturtium,rocket). This is quite ironic, as all the conventional nutritional literature talks about the need for red meat to increase iron levels, and it is only over this period that I have totally eliminated lamb and beef from my life.Now I don't know if you are a vegetarian, but if not, you know which meats are beneficial and neutral for you, and in addition the magical green lentil which is beneficial for you. Incidentally, I've recently noticed that there are two totally different looking green lentils - the tiny de puy European one (very expensive) and a very ordinary brown one which is nevertheless labelled "green". Do you ABs have the inside story on this matter?Cheerio,Jenny

ha-ha Jenny, you are to good ;D thank you dear- supermust say the lentils are one of my favoured avoids- even "it is +++" mentioned but I can't do this to others- toooooo much winds after ;D ;D ;D and everytimes after intake oflentils I've got stomachcramps- so I am not for that- but Jenny, its' ok I take now twicea day some 35 mg's away from foods and it gets step by step better.

In terms of avoids, cutting wheat out of my diet was the biggest. Within a week I could feel a difference in my digestion and my energy level. Until that point I had no clue wheat was a problem for my body. In addition, I can't say enough about the exercise advice given with the diet. Before the diet my exercise consisted of yoga and some running. After the diet, I concentrated more on weight lifting, and the benefit in regard to stress was very apparent. Not only was I more relaxed after weightlifting, I found that this type of exercise built up my "stress resistence capital" (if there is such a thing) that was a benefit to me throughout the day.

Replacing milk with soy has GREATLY helped me! No more gas!!! No more tummy upset. I have lost 13 pounds since Jan 1 and feel wonderful. My sinuses are cleared up and I no longer have the annoying hacking cough I have had for years. My headaches have almost completely cleared up. I feel wonderful...plus I am exercising 3-4 days/wk and whenever I feel "stressed" I do some deep breathing and it helps. This is great!

Mim

Posted by: Kristin, Wednesday, February 2, 2005, 4:08pm; Reply: 26

Let's see... if I had to choose what made the biggest difference for me it would be eliminating corn and tomatoes, adding lamb, and following the exercise and stress reduction suggestions. I have SO MUCH MORE energy now than before the BTD!! I hope I never forget how I used to feel fatigued and lethargic all the time.

ISA - have you tried cooking with cast-iron cookware to help boost iron levels? It is supposed to help, and would not cause any digestive upset....

Biggest change for me came when I found out I was a non secretor. I was livin' the secretor lifestyle and lovin' my 85% dark chocolate! Then my ignorantly blissful world was shattered when I found out I was the dreaded nonnie! NO! That day I checked my B food lists in LR4YT and found SUGAR to be a no no! What a shock considering I've lived on this product for about 40 years! And I was elated to find it listed as Neutral when I first started the (secretor) diet.

But jumping into the past -- when I first started the diet as a secretor I lost 25 lbs. Then I abruptly stopped the weight loss (but continued to lose inches). This should have sent up some type of flag for me. Seems I lost the weight when I gave up sweets for Lent! Anyhow, I abruptly cut out sugar from my life and started to drop the weight again! I've got a while to go, but after being stuck in a rut for about 9 months, it sure feels good to start losing again.

And I owe it all to finding out I'm a non-sec and SUGAR has been my demon all my life! I gladly give it up though, because soon I'll be wearing a bikini - something I haven't done since I was 10!

I also have a tendency to anemia and don't tolerate iron supplements well, they tend to irritate my colon. However, there is an alternative to iron supplements. You might want to take a B complex supplement as both vitamins B12 and folic acid improve absorption of iron from the foods you eat.

Also, if you are able to tolerate any soy products, I've read that soy improves iron absorption too.

Regards,

Posted by: proto, Wednesday, February 9, 2005, 4:09pm; Reply: 29

Reducing the amount of grains in my diet has been a major help to me. Also trying to eat more protein early on the day seems helpful. Trying to meet those hefty amounts of animal protein has been too difficult and I have settled to have some of those for breakfast. Having snacks is something new to me and seems to work very well. So no need to buy expensive yeast killers any more. Now it's just a question of recovering from apparent but not very serious liver damage:-) I'm still seriously underweight and don't seem to have much energy for exercise or such that might add more weight on me. BTD has been one of the factors that has helped me to recover from depression.

I was suffering from horribly embarrising acne on my jaw-line. I gave up my OJ I was drinking like a zelot every morning and ate pineapples, blue berries, black cherry juice and much more water (clean purified water) My face is clear and bright. I am still sprung on tomato sauce (an avoid) but I eat a very close diet and my skin is amazing! :K)

Posted by: Whimsical, Saturday, February 12, 2005, 3:56pm; Reply: 32

Here's a few changes that made huge differences to me:

Giving up wheat = Better moods, change in body shape

Giving up potatoes = No more spacing out, losing 7 pounds (without wanting to) after being on this diet for 3 years!

Regular, intense exercise (including weight lifting) = Total change in how mass is distributed on my body! I used to hate my legs, now they look entirely different! I have a flat stomach and defined arms!

Giving up sugar (after finding out I am a non) = Major improvement in mood, clear skin.

Posted by: 1321 (Guest), Friday, March 18, 2005, 1:17pm; Reply: 33

To those who have anemic problems, have you been tested for iron overload? Most Doctors don't test for it unless you request it. IOD is a killer if left untreated! You can still be anemic and have Iron overload. Check out the web site:ironoverload.org and glean info about Hereditary Hemochromatosis. I have it, so does my sister, and it is amazing that 1 out of 150 people carry the gene that causes it. Following the criteria and also the ER4YT diet has made me 10 years younger!! I'm 71, type O and when I look back before I found out these things, I probably would be in a wheelchair permantly and/or in a nursing home if I had not followed the diet etc.I had so much iron in me, that the scanners at the supermarkets etc, drained my energy and several times an ambulance was called because I was so ill. I still have monthly Phlebotomies to keep my iron level below 10, which makes me feel so much better! I'm energized afterward! I can almost run circles(and ride my stationary bike for 5 - 9 miles) around my best friend who is only 57 and Type A. Wheat has always been a problem for me, and now even the slightest bit of wheat can bring on shortness of breath. And avoiding the NIGHTSHADES has proven to be so beneficial to lessen Arthritis! Live and learn, and listen to your body! :)Sewjean. ogibbs@i2k.com

Posted by: yaman, Friday, March 18, 2005, 1:28pm; Reply: 34

Hello and welcome sewjean :)

Please visit the member center above right and pick yourself the O avatar so that you will not have to write your blood type every time you post.

Also may I recommend that you remove your e-mail address from your post for security? I can do it for you if you like. If you want to share your e-mail with someone, you can always send a private message (pm), a lot safer..

And last but not least, thank you for your wonderful testimonial. So good to meet you :)

cheers,Yaman

Posted by: jeanb, Friday, March 18, 2005, 1:36pm; Reply: 35

So many benefits to list, not enough time:

- no wheat= no stomach or constipation problems.- no potatoes = no arthritis or muscle aches- no sugar = no acne or weight issues

I used to get respiratory infections every winter that would always end up in walking pneumonia. I haven't have a chest cold in 7 years.

Very few migraines (migraines I get now are from pressure changes from Chinooks).Heal very quickly from cuts and bangs. I had a ruptured appendix last year and walked around septic with it for 3 days. After I had the surgery, my recovery was about 2 weeks, when the doctor said minimum 6-8. Went skiing after 3 weeks....I attribute this 100% to the diet and having the right foods for my recovery.

Posted by: Lola, Saturday, March 19, 2005, 12:03am; Reply: 36

wow jean!glad to hear you recovered so fast from that ruptured appendix!!